A meeting with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology

On 5 April, the head of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Kirsan Ilyumzhinov opened the chess tournament held by the Centre for Chess Culture and Information (CCCI). The tournament was a part of the festival timed to the Year of Averbakh. It should be noted that the year of the outstanding international grandmaster was announced on the initiative of FIDE in 2017. That year the honoured master of sports, USSR Champion Yury Averbakh celebrated his 95th anniversary.

Besides the competitions, the tournament programme includes excursions to the CCCI museum and other exhibitions of the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology. The arrival of FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who on April 5 marked his birthday, was greeted with applause by the staff of the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology, grandmasters, chess fans and representatives of public organizations. The General Director of the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology Yakov Shraiberg presented a huge bouquet of roses to the guest of honour. "I have always wanted to visit your library," Kirsan Ilyumzhinov confessed. "Thank you for the invitation. First of all, I would like to congratulate our legendary grandmaster Yuri Lvovich Averbakh on the last birthday. I grew up on his books and the TV chess school. He became a first-class player and then a champion of Kalmykia. I would like the chess school to reappear on domestic TV channels. We must use the rich experience of Yuri Averbakh, Lyudmila Belavenets, Marina and Sergei Makarychev. I am glad that the Centre for Chess Culture and Information is working in your library. You promote chess and encourage a large number of people to play this fascinating game." The special representative of FIDE President Alikhan Yandiev presented the Centre with a plasma display for meetings and webinars. At the request of the library staff and guests, Yuri Averbakh and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov played a chess game that, after a debut, pretty soon ended with a friendly handshake – a draw! Kirsan Ilyumzhinov inspected the chess museum and left an autograph on a memorable knight that bears dozens of signatures of famous chess players. Yuri Lvovich presented Kirsan Nikolayevich his recently published book: "In search of truth: from chaturanga to our days".